Innovation Fellows

FLC PISONovember 28, 2017

Nathaniel Adams and Rebekah Keely

Folsom Lake College students Nathaniel Adams and Rebekah Keely have been selected for the prestigious University Innovation Fellows program run by Stanford University's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school). They now join the Fall 2017 cohort of 229 students representing 62 higher education institutions from ten countries.

University Innovation Fellows work at their home campuses to ensure that their peers gain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to compete in the economy of the future and make a positive impact on the world. To accomplish this, Fellows advocate for lasting institutional change and create opportunities for students to engage with innovation, entrepreneurship, design thinking, and creativity at their schools. Fellows design innovation spaces, start entrepreneurship organizations, host experiential learning events, and work with faculty to develop new courses.

Adams and Keely, with the guidance and support of FLC Professor and Makerspace Coordinator Zack Dowell, recently completed six weeks of online training and attended the University Innovation Fellows Silicon Valley Meetup on November 16-20. "Rebekah and Nathaniel represent the best and brightest of the Folsom Lake College student body. Their hard work, determination, creativity, and commitment to innovation have been invaluable in the development of makerspace programs and services that will benefit FLC and its students for years to come," said Dowell.

"During training, Fellows gain skills, mindsets and knowledge to face ever-more complex challenges at their schools and in the world," said Humera Fasihuddin, co-director of the University Innovation Fellows program. "They learn frameworks like design thinking and lean startup, which help them analyze their campus ecosystems, understand the needs of others, and uncover opportunities for change. As a result, Fellows design learning experiences that better prepare peers for their careers."

"In traditional education systems, students have to wait until they graduate to make a difference. We don't believe that," said Leticia Britos Cavagnaro, co-director of the University Innovation Fellows program. "Students are uniquely equipped to make a difference while they're in school; they know best what other students want and need. Our Fellows are working with their peers, faculty and administrators to co-design a different educational experience and bring about change where it's needed most."